LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Southwest Power Pool, a regional power grid operator that ensures access to reliable sources of electricity at affordable rates, is accepting applications to serve on an independent panel to review competitive transmission construction proposals in 2016.

The panel will review, rank and score responses for certain competitive transmission projects approved for construction by the company’s board of directors. The panel is required under Order No. 1000 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“This panel of industry experts provides an independent review of competitive transmission upgrade proposals and recommendations to the board of directors on the awarding of construction projects,” said Paul Suskie, executive vice president of regulatory and general counsel. “Their expertise helps ensure the selection of the most efficient and cost-effective solution.”

Interested candidates must have electric transmission expertise in at least one of the following areas:

Applications will accepted through Sept. 1, 2015. The board of directors will approve appointments to the panel in October.

Applications and instructions are available for download at www.spp.org. Completed applications and supporting materials should be submitted via email to IEPApplications@spp.org.

About Southwest Power Pool, Inc.

Founded in 1941, SPP is a group of 86 members in Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming that serve more than 15 million customers. Membership is comprised of investor-owned utilities, municipal systems, generation and transmission cooperatives, state authorities, wholesale generators, power marketers, independent transmission companies, and a federal agency. SPP's footprint includes 48,537 miles of transmission lines and 370,000 square miles of service territory. As a Regional Transmission Organization, SPP ensures reliable supplies of power, adequate transmission infrastructure, and competitive wholesale electricity prices. The SPP Regional Entity oversees compliance enforcement and reliability standards development. Learn more about SPP by visiting the company’s website at www.spp.org.